Question for portable genny users!

Dude_Himself

I was looking at the flexible panels here:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B071JQQL84/?coliid=I1YAVOBGCO3V63&colid=2Y3N3XCFURP5G&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I can fit 4 of those easily on the Bimini. I know a few folks that have theirs held down with powerful magnets:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0748NZRJH/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_3?smid=A1T24Q2YX26SWS&psc=1

I love Victron products - the Victron SmartSolar Charge Controller has BT built in for monitoring and system maintenance.

Here's some good breakers. 

boatman37

^ thats exactly what i was going to say.....not. now my head hurts...lol...

J3ff

I just need something to keep the batteries topped off while on a mooring, is 50w enough for that? 

jme097

I use my Honda EU2000 on my 280. I love it. Single tank of gas (less than a gallon) will power the boat all day on the water with the AC running for a couple hours easily. If I run it on ECO mode with just the fridges going and my charger, I can gi Saturday and Sunday on a tank of gas. 

04FV270riverrat

jme097 said:

I use my Honda EU2000 on my 280. I love it. Single tank of gas (less than a gallon) will power the boat all day on the water with the AC running for a couple hours easily. If I run it on ECO mode with just the fridges going and my charger, I can gi Saturday and Sunday on a tank of gas. 

That's good to hear. I'm mainly wanting it for A/C at night 7 hours or so and just as a backup to the batteries in case one runs dead, but it shouldn't if I just turn on the genny and give a charge periodically.

jme097

04FV270riverrat said:

jme097 said:

I use my Honda EU2000 on my 280. I love it. Single tank of gas (less than a gallon) will power the boat all day on the water with the AC running for a couple hours easily. If I run it on ECO mode with just the fridges going and my charger, I can gi Saturday and Sunday on a tank of gas. 

That's good to hear. I'm mainly wanting it for A/C at night 7 hours or so and just as a backup to the batteries in case one runs dead, but it shouldn't if I just turn on the genny and give a charge periodically.

I have never ran the AC on it for that long but I have for a couple hours and it definitely handles it with no problems. 

Cableguy Greg

If the genny is running on ECO mode, the AC sometimes has a difficult time starting. A soft start capacitor would help the surge.

Kaptain_Ken

Better than a soft start capacitor is this.  Made by Dometic for their units:

https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/products/business-solutions/marine-solutions/boat-air-conditioners/air-conditioning/dometic-smartstart-ii-_-52048

A bit cheaper is this, but it's after market:

https://www.microair.net/products/easystart-364-3-ton-single-phase-soft-starter-for-air-conditioners?variant=30176048267

My A/C is a 6000 BTU Dometic Turbo unit installed new just two years ago and I find my Honda EU2000i powers it just fine in ECO mode.  But I suspect if it was a 10000 BTU unit it might struggle.

04FV270riverrat

I wound up getting this Westinghouse from Lowes.


I got the 4 year warranty with it. I tried it at the dock this weekend and it ran the A/C and battery charger at the same time. 2200 watt peak and 1800 watt running. I have a lake trip planned in a couple weeks so we'll see how it goes there. 

I just need to figure out a way to "tie it down" while on the platform.